Wendy Russell
Interview Posted By: Ashley Smith
1. Can you tell us a little about your background? i.e. Where you grew up, what education do you have, a summary of your resume, did you always want to do what you are doing now, when did you start to become interested in STEM, what internships/ volunteering
I grew up in California with an airline mechanic for a Father. I have always had an interest in mechanical items and had just as much fun taking apart my toys as I did playing with them. In high school I had the opportunity to focus on an electronics curriculum, so from sophomore year on my education was technically tailored. My first summer internship was as an assistant electrician at Stanford Hospital. After high school, I chose to go to a trade school to obtain my A&P (Airframe and Power Plant) license, but 8 months into the program I stopped this training because it was not what I wanted to do. Shortly after that, I entered my local community college and began a 2 year program in welding technology. Although I learned a considerable amount, this too was not for me. At 21, I decided to enter the work force and find out what it was that I really wanted to do. I worked for 5 years as a theatrical stagehand mostly as an electrician setting up stage lights. It was as a stagehand that I determined I wanted to become an engineer. Once again I found myself at the local community college studying engineering where I received a AS in physics prior to transferring to California State University, Chico. At Chico, I graduated with a BS in mechanical engineering.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
I currently work as a product safety engineering, testing industrial and power products for UL. Strangely enough my background in electronics, welding and theatre have broadened the range of products I am able to evaluate (e.g., theatrical dimmers/lighting controllers, motor controllers, fuel tanks and electrical enclosures, just to name some).
3. How does STEM relate to your job?How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
STEM is problem solving. It is a way of looking at the world, asking questions and answering the questions you asked. “Do I use my degree?” Hmmm, yes and no. Not in what you would consider a conventional sense. Not everyone who earns an engineering degree designs products, which is what most people would consider conventional use of the degree. Product safety testing requires an understanding of how products work and the potential failure mechanisms. We take that knowledge to determine how to test a product within the requirements of the safety standards.
4. Have you faced any discrimination/ challenges being a woman in a stem field? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you have any advice for up and coming women in STEM?
Discrimination? – honestly no. My best advice to avoid possible discrimination is to be honest and up front with people. If you don’t know something, do not pretend to know it. Simply say, “I don’t know, but I will find out.”
5. What is the best and worst part of your job? What do you look forward to in your job on a day to day basis? What do you wish you could change?
Dealing with decisions that are associated with finance. Simple fact of the matter is that you are employed to make the company you work for more money than you get paid. Finding the proper balance between keeping yourself gainfully employed and what is required to do the job right, is difficult. I look forward to the people that I work with. The company that I work at is family oriented and the people are an extension of that family. One of the more difficult challenges is discussing technical concepts with people who are not fully technical. You need to do this in a way that is educational and not as if you are dumbing down something. People, technical or not, are well aware when you are not being genuine and open to sharing your knowledge.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
That is not always easy. We can all work 24 hours a day if we wanted to, but you have to know when you need to recharge. Burnout is a series issue in our current work climate. Just remember no one has ever said, “ I wish I worked more” at the end of their life.
7. What do you define success as?
Happiness. Are you happy with what you are doing? If not, you only have yourself to blame.
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Persistence!!
9. Who was a mentor to you throughout your career? (can be more than one!) What did they teach you? How did they impact your life?
You will likely have several mentors and all will have an impact from time to time. For me it is those silly words of wisdom that pop up in my head when the moment is right.
10. What do you think is the best advice you've ever received ? What advice would you give your younger self if you had the chance? What’s one piece of advice you can pass on to us?
Treat everyone as if they have something to teach you and you will continue learning every day of your life.
I grew up in California with an airline mechanic for a Father. I have always had an interest in mechanical items and had just as much fun taking apart my toys as I did playing with them. In high school I had the opportunity to focus on an electronics curriculum, so from sophomore year on my education was technically tailored. My first summer internship was as an assistant electrician at Stanford Hospital. After high school, I chose to go to a trade school to obtain my A&P (Airframe and Power Plant) license, but 8 months into the program I stopped this training because it was not what I wanted to do. Shortly after that, I entered my local community college and began a 2 year program in welding technology. Although I learned a considerable amount, this too was not for me. At 21, I decided to enter the work force and find out what it was that I really wanted to do. I worked for 5 years as a theatrical stagehand mostly as an electrician setting up stage lights. It was as a stagehand that I determined I wanted to become an engineer. Once again I found myself at the local community college studying engineering where I received a AS in physics prior to transferring to California State University, Chico. At Chico, I graduated with a BS in mechanical engineering.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
I currently work as a product safety engineering, testing industrial and power products for UL. Strangely enough my background in electronics, welding and theatre have broadened the range of products I am able to evaluate (e.g., theatrical dimmers/lighting controllers, motor controllers, fuel tanks and electrical enclosures, just to name some).
3. How does STEM relate to your job?How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
STEM is problem solving. It is a way of looking at the world, asking questions and answering the questions you asked. “Do I use my degree?” Hmmm, yes and no. Not in what you would consider a conventional sense. Not everyone who earns an engineering degree designs products, which is what most people would consider conventional use of the degree. Product safety testing requires an understanding of how products work and the potential failure mechanisms. We take that knowledge to determine how to test a product within the requirements of the safety standards.
4. Have you faced any discrimination/ challenges being a woman in a stem field? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you have any advice for up and coming women in STEM?
Discrimination? – honestly no. My best advice to avoid possible discrimination is to be honest and up front with people. If you don’t know something, do not pretend to know it. Simply say, “I don’t know, but I will find out.”
5. What is the best and worst part of your job? What do you look forward to in your job on a day to day basis? What do you wish you could change?
Dealing with decisions that are associated with finance. Simple fact of the matter is that you are employed to make the company you work for more money than you get paid. Finding the proper balance between keeping yourself gainfully employed and what is required to do the job right, is difficult. I look forward to the people that I work with. The company that I work at is family oriented and the people are an extension of that family. One of the more difficult challenges is discussing technical concepts with people who are not fully technical. You need to do this in a way that is educational and not as if you are dumbing down something. People, technical or not, are well aware when you are not being genuine and open to sharing your knowledge.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
That is not always easy. We can all work 24 hours a day if we wanted to, but you have to know when you need to recharge. Burnout is a series issue in our current work climate. Just remember no one has ever said, “ I wish I worked more” at the end of their life.
7. What do you define success as?
Happiness. Are you happy with what you are doing? If not, you only have yourself to blame.
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Persistence!!
9. Who was a mentor to you throughout your career? (can be more than one!) What did they teach you? How did they impact your life?
You will likely have several mentors and all will have an impact from time to time. For me it is those silly words of wisdom that pop up in my head when the moment is right.
10. What do you think is the best advice you've ever received ? What advice would you give your younger self if you had the chance? What’s one piece of advice you can pass on to us?
Treat everyone as if they have something to teach you and you will continue learning every day of your life.
